The BIM AGM
The AGM, held on the 12th of November was a great day with many people attending and hearing about the organisations history from Lea Kewish, ex-BIM creator, through Brain Injury Matters. We heard about how the organisation began with a minute group of people and grew to what it is now. We were also shown excerpts from a film which showed some of the organisations first members and they discussed their situations and how they got through their particular situations back then. The day ended with many of the attendees staying for lunch and lots of talk/networking.
See the photos below for images of the day.
Neil Cameron, the MC addresses the assembled guests.
Lea Kewish addressing the BIM
Lea receiving a gift for her presentation
The new President and Secretary of BIM, Brent and Nia
Fran, the ex-President of BIM, receives a gift in recognition of her work
The BIM guests enjoy the food on offer
Fiona and her sidekick
Fran, Nia and guest.
Peta and Troy
Guests with Neil.
Thanks from Lea
I want to express my thanks to you all for your kind invitation to me to address your members at the recent AGM.
I found it an honour to be there and talk about BIM’s beginnings and to see that it has survived and evolved and serves the needs of so many people now. In particular, I would like to publicly thank Larissa who acted an encourager and liaison and put so much effective work into getting me there and reproducing the “Remember Me” video in a usable form and placing it on YouTube. I congratulate her and hope that this acknowledgment can be mentioned in your newsletter. It’s another tech success for BIM in the public domain as well as the mobile app. Very pleasing for me to see and most useful for so many survivors and families.
I have felt personally enriched by this experience of all your efforts and wish you a happy festive season and the best of success and support to members and staff for the coming year.
Sincerely
Lea Kewish
The Victorian ABI Support Network
The Victorian ABI Support Network is a 12-month (July 2019-June 2020) NDIS funded project being run by BIM, United Brains and By Accident. It aims to decrease social isolation and improve health and wellbeing as a result of people with ABI having more control in their lives through better information, more social relationships, growth and development (learning, employment), and empowerment through contributing to issues facing the ABI community.
The project has both organisational and individual capacity building activities. The individual capacity building activities aims to build confidence, skills and knowledge of people with ABI, and put them in touch with peer support groups, if they are not linked already. Organisational capacity building activities are focussed on strengthening BIM, United Brains and peer support groups to improve their effectiveness and sustainability, through training and resources. The aim is for the Victorian ABI Support Network to be a strong voice of people with ABI.
The project team is based at the BIM office in Ross House. Please drop in and say hello!
The ABI Wise App Project
In 2018 and 2019, BIM led a project to build the world’s first App about brain injury, made by people with brain injury. It was successfully launched in March 2019, and it has been well received across the world. It is now available to download for free for all mobile phones and devices. You can read more about our ABI Wise App here as well as watch the video of our Launch event.
The Lodden Mallee project
In July 2018- June 2019, Brain Injury Matters ran a project in the Loddon Mallee region called ‘Social Media, The Broader Picture’. This was with the support of Bendigo Health and DHHS ILC funding. This project connected with many ABI peer groups and service providers throughout the Loddon Mallee region, and provided social media training. The experience of ABI is often very isolating, and living in rural areas can increase such isolation. This project aimed to support and build capacity of people with ABI to lead independent lives, as well as contribute to communities and support networks in the region.
